Japan

Top 5 Food Videos of 2012

What kind of world would it be without Internet video? Most give The Food Network, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network a run for their money, and best of all, you need only commit to a few minutes of your time instead of a full half-hour.Here are my favorite videos of the year.

KFC Japan Offers A Trip To Osaka To Eat All-You-Can-Eat Chicken

About this time, every year, someone out there like me writes an article about how the Japanese have made eating KFC a Christmas tradition as we have made eating roast turkey and stuffing. I know this because I tried to write one last year only to be informed by our web editor that she already wrote ... More >>

Watch Two Weeks Of Eating in Japan Condensed To Three Minutes

Got three minutes? Wanna go eat in Japan? Here's a video that proves that you don't need to be Anthony Bourdain to do mouthwatering food porn. You just need a good camera and to know where to point it. Combined with funky, 8-bit music, the gorgeously shot and edited 3-minute short was uploaded a few ... More >>

Original Iron Chef Gets New Chairman; Japan Not Happy

Can someone be too young and too handsome? Apparently if you've been anointed the new chairman of Iron Chef Japan, you can. Kotaku is reporting that Japanese fans of the original Iron Chef are up in arms over the striking good looks and youth of the new chairman producers have chosen to preside over ... More >>

Burger King Introduces Black-Bunned Burger With Squid Ink Ketchup In Japan

I'm really not sure what the appeal here is. A few weeks ago, it was McDonald's that offered black and white burgers in China. Now, it appears the Burger Kings in Japan are getting into burger noir act, too. Starting this Friday, September 28, the Japanese arm of the King will start selling the ... More >>

On the Line: Donald Williams of Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, Part Two

We don't know if we were more surprised or relieved that Donald was a man of choice words. It might be because he used to teach English, and we were prepared to type a whole lot more. Either way, his demeanor was about as chill as could be right before a lunch service.Read our interview with Donald ... More >>

On the Line: Donald Williams of Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, Part One

Donald Williams was careful to explain that the operation is a team effort. There is no designated chef at Coco Ichibanya. Sauce, protein, starch, and perhaps a veg. There's a certain amount of assembly (and a whole lotta curry) involved. He also mentioned their next location in K-town, opening in t ... More >>

The "World's 50 Best" List Is Published, Is Usual Steaming Pile of Irrelevance

Oh, look, this year's edition of "The World's 50 Best Restaurants", sponsored by San Pellegrino and its subsidiary Acqua Panna, has come out. Cue the precious online debates and the bored yawns from the rest of the world.Ranked lists of the best anything are patent bollocks: they necessarily reflec ... More >>

Daiso Is Dollar Shopping, Japan-Style

[Trendzilla] The Irvine store has a yen for big savings!

Popular YouTube Chef Seriously Injured

​If Cooking With Dog isn't the most popular cooking channel on YouTube, it is certainly the most beloved. The series of cooking shorts that details, step-by-step, the creation of more than 70 Japanese dishes was recently selected for a YouTube Japanese Award. Our sister blog SFoodie shares our lov ... More >>

5 Strange Video Game-Inspired Dishes From Japan

​Here in the United States, we do silly things like honor our precious movie stars by naming sandwiches after them. To name a few, there are the "Woody Allen" at Carnegie Deli in New York, "The Salma" and "The Kiera" at Hot Doug's in Chicago, and "Marilyn Monroe"--a Thanksgiving-style turkey sandw ... More >>

Shonen Knife's Naoko Yamano: 'I'm Ashamed to Write Songs About Love'

Shonen Knife​It's been three decades since beloved all-female Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife formed, and although they have only one remaining original member, singer/guitarist Naoko Yamano, they still pump out an endearing mixture of pop, punk, food and fantasy that has attracted fans all ov ... More >>

[UPDATED with Conditions of Injured:] Mysterious Explosion Rocks Newport Beach

​UPDATE, OCT. 12, 2:09 P.M.: Newport Beach fire officials still haven't found the cause of an explosion that sent four people to a hospital this morning. Three are in serious condition with burns to their arms and faces, while the fourth, who drove to the hospital, sustained moderate injuries. A ... More >>

Top Eight Highlights from Tokyo Game Show 2011

​Tokyo Game Show, the Japanese expo equivalent of Los Angeles' Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), was held over the past weekend in the midst of the Japanese scorching summer heat. Along with new information regarding Sony's PlayStation Vita, new game and hardware announcements along with hands-o ... More >>

Cup Noodles Museum Opens in Japan

You Offend Me You Offend My Family​The Cup Noodles Museum opens today!  And no, I don't mean my old dorm room closet. Forty years ago, Nissin Foods introduced to the world what would become a food staple of college students, stoners, kitchen klutzes and overworked cubicle rats. To celebr ... More >>

Weekend Guide: OC Japan Fair, Cupcake Camp and Lotsa Lobsta

Cupcake Camp OC Facebook Page​It's gonna be a crazy weekend 'round here. And it starts . . . now. TODAYOriginal Long Beach Lobster Festival What: Watch out, Sebastian! Loads of crustaceans will be steamed, buttered and served with coleslaw and watermelon at this beloved annual event. &nb ... More >>

Nintendo Alienates Their Biggest Fans: 5 Nintendo Games that May NEVER Be Released

Pandora's Tower: A game that you may NEVER get a chance to play.​This year's lineup of games for Nintendo's systems are running a bit thin. Sure, we've got The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and a few 3DS games to look forward to, but the number of games that are targeting the experienced gamer cr ... More >>

Three of Nintendo's Awesome Japanese Services That We Will Never See

​Recently available to Nintendo 3DS owners--of Japan and Europe, for now--is the Nintendo Video service. The service is expected to release "Nintendo-approved" 2D and 3D content to the 3DS with cartoons, comedy clips, and even music videos. Working alongside another application known as SpotPass T ... More >>

When East Los Meets Tokyo: Chicano Rap and Lowrider Culture in Japan

​ Earthquakes aren't the only thing that California and Japan have in common. For years Japanese youth have adopted and emulated lowrider culture and Chicano Rap as their own. This peculiar phenomenon attracted a promotional tour to Japan in 2006 by Always Running author Luis J. Rodriguez who brou ... More >>

Break Me Off a Piece of That (Pounded Soybean Paste) Kit Kat Bar!

​I just discovered the flickr set Kit Kats of the World, and boy, we Americans are getting gypped with boring milk chocolate. Japan's got much more intriguing varieties such as salt-watermelon, jasmine tea, chocolate & grilled potato, wasabi, grilled corn, sports drink and even "air-condition ... More >>

OC (Hearts) Japan

House of Blues

Flier of the Week: Benefit show for Japan at Alex's Bar

​ Ever since the major catastrophe in Japan, people have been wondering how they can help the victims, who are just starting to put their lives back together again. For musicians, the best way to help is to put on a show and invite as many bands and DJ's as you can.

Benefit Show for Japan

Alex's Bar

Tonight: Baja Sharkeez Newport Beach Fundraiser for Japan

​The always loud and festive Baja Sharkeez Newport Beach is stepping up to help the Japan relief effort by hosting a silent auction and raffle tonight from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. There's some serious loot up for bidding--Lakers and Angels tickets, autographed Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings equipmen ... More >>

Gwen Stefani Donates $1 Million to Japanese Emergency Fund

​After co-opting Japanese fashion for years, Gwen Stefani is giving back. Today, she announced that she donated $1 million to Save the Children's relief efforts for Japan. The No Doubt singer and fashion designer said in a statement: "I've been inspired by Japan for many years and have a true love ... More >>

Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Simon Cowell and More Host Benefits for Japan Via Shows, T-Shirts, Albums, Vids, Tweets

​In the wake of the unfathomable disaster in Japan, musicians are showing their support through benefit shows, merch and other creative endeavors, rallying fans to help the country. Their efforts can make a real impact--Gaga's Japan-relief wristbands raised $250,000 in just 48 hours.  Here's ... More >>

Ramen Shop Owner Who Lost His Home in Japan Tsunami Gives Away Noodles

There's a lot of news coming out of Japan, all of it sad, some of it worrisome; but then there are a few stories that instill hope, like this one, which is about an owner of ramen shop in Miyako City who decided to give away his noodles even as he, himself, lost his home in the tsunami. Why? Becau ... More >>

Japan Radiation No Threat to California, Officials Say

​Maybe it's the fact that Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant has already suffered several explosions, is currently leaking radiation into the air, and seems to be headed toward total meltdown. Maybe it's the fact that a cold pressure system is sucking cold wind out of China and Korea and sendin ... More >>

How the Video Game Community Is Responding to Japan's Quake Disasters

Masahiro Sakurai's TwitterA photo by Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai shows empty Tokyo streets after the earthquake​With the death toll rising above 10,000 people, 88,000 people reported missing and the threat of numerous nuclear meltdowns, Japan is facing its worst national catastrophe since World ... More >>

Lady Gaga Designs Japan Relief Bracelet, Raises $250,000 So Far

​Using her star power and fashion prowess for good, Lady Gaga has designed a "We Pray for Japan" wristband, sold on her site for $5, with all proceeds going toward Japan earthquake/tsunami relief efforts.Today, she tweeted that $250,000 has been raised so far. 

Japan Quake Disaster Raises Fears and Charity in OC

Photo by Airman John D. Partlow/U.S. Air ForceDisplaced commercial airline passengers take shelter inside Taiyo Community Center on Friday.​Those following the epic horrors playing out across the Pacific are aware that the 8.9 magnitude earthquake has been officially declared the worst catastrophe ... More >>

Some of Japan McDonald's New American-Themed Burgers Are Hilariously Misguided

McDonalds.co.jp​The food-blog web is snickering with news that McDonald's outlets in Japan are doing a new burger promotion called Big America 2 (yes, it's a sequel, meaning they've done this before).The burgers, hilarious caricatures and revealing in how Japan sees us, are shown above in all thei ... More >>

Record Price For Tuna

Flickr user 4-6​The Tsukiji fish market auction grabs headlines this time of year, almost every year. Last year, the story was on a 513 pound bluefin tuna that netted $177,000. This year's catch blew that one out of the water.

Both Cheese

VIento y Agua Gallery

Kasugai Konpeito Candy

Edwin Goei​Name: Kasugai Konpeito Candy Origin: Japan Found at: Freshia, Tustin Cost: $2.49 Ingredients: Sugar, FD & C Yellow No. 5, FD & C Yellow No. 6, FD & C Blue No. 1. Why I Bought It: Moth balls. They first looked like moth balls. Further research revealed that these cand ... More >>

Art of the Samurai

Bowers Museum

More East-Meets-Mex Fusion at Wafu of Japan

I raved about the samurai burrito at Wafu of Japan last month; here's another Japexican creation from this small, delicious eatery: jalapeños stuffed with spicy tuna.No need to buy Tums. The chilies that Wafu's chefs use are of the shishito variety, more piquant than fiery, while when has anyone ev ... More >>

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

Bowers Museum

[This Hole-in-the-Wall Life] Pay Teriyaki Forward at Tokyo Teriyaki

99 Ranch Wants You To Know: "NOT Made in China!"

Browsed through the online ads for 99 Ranch today and I noticed something I'd never noticed before. On their flier, attached to pictures of items that are look remotely Asian in origin, there are now big cartoony bubbles that proclaim "Made in Taiwan" or "Made in Japan". I'm pretty sure that befor ... More >>

Not-so-americana

An Introduction to Japanese Sake

Aural Reports

From Her Van to Your Mind: Reina Boone strums local, thinks global

Aural Reports

Anime(xican) American: Stephanie Yanez brings sabor to karaoke

Atomic Action Beanball

A coincidence, but one which raises a question. The coincidence: last night Japan won the title game in the World Baseball Classic, and last night I happened across a curious minor relic of the relationship between baseball in the U.S. and baseball in Japan. The question it raised in my mind: do th ... More >>

Kabuki Dreams

How a former Huntington High drama student became a cultural insider

Guitar Wolf

Shadow Warriors

The Last Samurai gets lost in a tendentious haze

We Respond to Register Letters

Sweet Dreams

Domo Arigato, Mr. Natto

Learning to love Japans stinky weapon of culinary destruction